"No No NO!" Snape shakes his head. "The fig roots go over by the toad worts. Haven't you been listening to me, boy?" He was getting frustrated with Draco. The boy had been arranging the potions for the past four hours and he still wasn't getting it right. "Draco. Go to bed. You look like your going to drop." His voice now held a fatherly concern for his son. He watches as the boy stumbles out of the potion storeroom and down the dark corridor. His eyes fall upon Raven who was making his way towards him.
He mutters a "goodnight" to the stumbling Draco as he passes and shakes his head. Leave it up to Snape to run the boy raged. He looks around feeling eyes upon him and makes eye contact with Severus. "I need to talk." Raven's eyes are not shining brightly as usual. He pushes past Snape and takes a seat on a stool in the corner of the storeroom.
Severus frowns and watches the boy take a seat. "What can I help you with Raven? Are you ill? Has something happened?" He was now concerned. Raven didn't want to talk unless something terrible had happened or was going to happen. He stays silent and lets the boy gather his thoughts.
Taking a deep breath he begins to speak. "I slept with her Severus. You tried to warn me about this happening but I was to stubborn to listen to you. Now look at the mess I'm in! I feel so dirty and even had to take a shower to get her smell off of me. What am I going to do?" Raven looks up at his former Professor turned father, looking younger than his seventeen years.
Snape frowns and shakes his head. "I did try and warn you but you had to follow your own path. I can't help you Raven. This was your choice. But I can tell you this. You need to decide if this was something you wanted. If it wasn't I suggest that you end it now. But if it indeed was something that you wanted...I remember how you and Hermione were best friends. Not to mention the Weasley. You three were inseparable. But everyone figured that you and Hermione would get together. You could tell. But you have to remember that your loyalty is most important. Don't do something to destroy what we have been working for. We are too close. If you wish to be with her...get her to join. Or end it." He watches the boy.
Raven listens to Severus speak. What he was saying made sense. If he wanted to be with Hermione he would have to get her to join. But could he do it? Could he let her fully into his life? Even tell her who he really was? She would surely hate him. But it had to be done. "Your right, Sir. Thanks for the advice. It was very helpful." He keeps his eyes to the floor not wanting his father to see the confusion in his eyes. He stands and heads for the door.
"Raven. Sometimes things have to be done that we don't like. But I want you to be happy. And if being with her makes you happy...I'm happy. Ok?" He offers the boy a reassuring smile and hoped to god that he did the right thing. They were so close. A few more months and everything would be set.
Raven nods and steps out into the cold corridor. He doesn't return to his room, instead he heads outside. The night was cool and stars were shining brightly. He looks up to the stars and sighs. "Mom...I wish things could of been different. I wish I could of know you and dad. And I wish I could have stayed on the right path. I strayed and now I'm too far in to get out. I know you're ashamed of me and if you out there...I just wanted to say sorry." He looks down to the ground. Soon the grounds would be bustling with children and his life would be put on hold. He doesn't notice the figure watching him.